High school athletes usually have busy days, but none were any busier than what Northgate senior Amanda Silay experienced last Thursday.
It started at 1:45 p.m., when she finished 44th in the WPIAL Class AA cross country championships.
Thanks to Silay and teammates Bridgit Walters, Rachel Reig, Allison Gusew, Carolyn Denes, Savannah Paladin and Kim Senko, who finished seventh, 25th, 39th, 64th, 125th and 137th, respectively, Northgate qualified for Saturday's PIAA meet for the first time in more than two decades.
Catching her breath after the 3.1-mile run over a hilly course in northern Butler County, Silay watched her twin brother, Jimmy, finish 41st.
Then, she jumped in her dad's car. Bill Silay has been the Northgate cross country coach for the past 14 years.
Finally, she arrived at Pine-Richland in time for Northgate's first-round volleyball playoff game — not just to watch; Amanda has been a starter since 2007.
The story doesn't have a completely happy ending for Amanda, though. Northgate lost to Greensburg Central Catholic, 3-0.
· One of the biggest upsets of the soccer playoffs occurred last Thursday, when defending PIAA Class A champion Seton-La Salle beat No. 1 seed Quaker Valley, 1-0. The goal was scored by James DelGreco, his 18th of the season. Goalkeeper Cory Smigielski recorded his second consecutive playoff shutout. Seton-La Salle (14-6) lost three of its last five regular-season games but appears to be getting hot at the right time. Next up: the semifinals. Seton-La Salle will play Greensburg Central Catholic at 6 p.m. today at Shaler. GCC has won its two playoff games by a total score of 10-1.
DIGITS
344 — Rushing yards gained by Greensburg Central Catholic's David Miller on Friday against Jeannette — a school record.
59 — Career rushing touchdowns by Miller, moving him ahead of Mark Steinman into second place on GCC's all-time list — only four behind leader Max Suter.
